Drinking fountain head



p 1941. E. w. MARCHAND, JR 2,257,268

DRINKING FOUNTAIN HEAD Original Filed Nov. 22, 1937 Patented Sept. 30, 1941 DRINKING FOUNTAIN HEAD Eugene W. .Marchand, Jri, Maywood, 111;, as-i signor to Crane 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation or Illinois Original application November 22, 1937, Serial No.

175,805. Divided and this application August 16, 1939, Serial No. 290,412 3' Claims. 01. 29945) This invention relates to a drinking fountain head preferably having an offset orifice in which the jet of water or stream is formed within a Concealed portion and discharged at an angle through an elongated or slotted type of opening. This application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 175,805, filed November 22, 1937, now United States Patent No. 2,222,567, granted November 19, 1940.

One of the more important advantages of my drinking fountain head lies in the provision of a novel form of concealed discharge orifice which may be made either adjustable or fixed and of such desired shape so that either by capillary adhesion or by suitable deflection the discharge flow for drinking purposes may be easily controlled to suit the conditions of the individual installation.

Another important object of the invention lies in the provision of a sanitary drinking fountain head in which flow through the head for drinking purposes is enhanced by the use of a capillary lip but in which desired reversal of flow past the lower portion of the hood will occur when the stream reaches a predetermined minimum height attributable to flow drop in volume, reduction in pressure and the like, thereby effectually preventing the drinking of water at such times when the line fiow or pressure is not sufficient to insure the issuance of an adequate supply considered from the standpoint of proper sanitation. 7

A further important object of the invention lies in the provision of a construction possessing the advantage so that either the return or the dripping of water from the users lips is directed away from the inner concealed drinking orifice from which the water issues.

Further, objects and advantages will become more readily apparent upon proceeding with the following description in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. l is one form of my invention showing a novel type of adjustable orifice which is provided with a capillary lip construction serving a purpose hereinafter to be described in greater detail.

Fig. 2 is a front exterior View of the fountain head described in Fig. 1.

Like reference numbers refer to like parts throughout the views.

Referring to Fig. 1, the fountain head therein shown comprises a casing or body I, one end of which is connected to the inlet supply pipe 2, the inlet thereto leading to a chamber 3 in the body. The chamber 3 has the outletaperture 4 leading therefrom suitablyfpositiohed so as to.

allow for the discharge of water .therethrough in a substantially vertical ,direction.e ,'1'he aperture 4 is preferably an oblong discharge orifice;

. Mounted upon the casing .l and securedflthereto for horizontal adjustment by the machine bolts 5 extending through the elongated apertures B and '1 are the shield 8 and the orifice plate 9. The hollow shield 8 is provided with a preferably elongated orifice 13 (more clearly shown in Fig. 2). It will be noted that the shield 8 provides for an aeration chamber I4 whereby the proper and sufficient aeration occurs therewithin so that the discharge stream passing under relatively high velocity through the orifice 4 is properly aerated. Obviouslythe shield 8 also serves as a protective hood against tampering with the discharge orifice and also avoiding the accumulation of dust and filth therewithin. In order that human fingers, paper, cloth or similar tampering or air cut-off means may not be applied to interfere with the previously referred to aeration provided by the chamber 14, it is preferable that the lower portion of the shield should be provided with the serrated peripheral edge 15 making it difficult, if not impossible, to block completely the passage of air into the chamber 14, and at the same time, substantially preventing the entry of foreign matter therein.

The orifice plate 9 is longitudinally slidable and isprovided with a turned .up or flanged end portion 16 acting in cooperative relation with the orifice 1 so as to thereby vary the width of the stream discharged therebetween. Thus it will be apparent that the width of the discharge orifice i1 is preferably made readily adjustable by simply moving the orifice guard 9 longitudinally guided within its slots 6 so as to obtain the desired width of the orifice IT for the drinking stream discharge. In this form the water is discharged through the adjustable orifice l1, strikes the upwardly extending offset lip portion 10 and by surface adhesion follows or clings to the surface thereof to reach the tip of the lip portion it subsequently to be directed to and through the outer discharge orifice 13 of the shield 8. In this construction, if the water supply pressure to the drinking fountain head should for any reason diminish perceptibly, rendering it impossible to possess sufficient force for the discharged stream to reach the orifice 13, the water will likewise fall back into the lower portion of the space 14 so that it will then be impossible for the user to reach the drinking water with the lips or mouth. The advantage of such construction here too resides in the fact that it is impossible for the individual to place the lips tightly against the orifice l3 and by suction draw the water therefrom, leading to the spread of diseases and other infection.

From the foregoing detailed description itis evident that a simple and relatively compact construction has been provided for a device providing for drinking means available for use by the public in a sanitary manner conducive to good health and which may also be modified in many ways from the particular forms disclosed and described. a

I desire, therefore; to be limited only to the extent of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a drinking fountain head adapted to provide a curving column of water, the said hea comprising a casing having a discharge aperture, a plate member movably mounted transversely in relation to the said aperture, an apertured hooded shield superposed above the said plate member, the said plate having extension means for deflecting the fiow through the aperture of the said shield, the said plate forming part of the discharge aperture, and upon transverse movement relative to the said casing determining the size of the said discharge aperture.

2. In a drinking fountain head adapted to provide a curving column of Water, the said head comprising a casing having a discharge aperture, a movable orifice plate therefor in cooperative relation with the said discharge aperture, a ported shield superposed above the said orifice plate, the said plate having upwardly curved lipped means with a curved portion thereof in substantial alignment with the port of the shield whereby the stream flow therepast is directed through the port of said shield.

3. In a drinking fountain head adapted to provide a curving column of water, the said head comprising a casing having a discharge aperture, an orifice plate therefor slidably movable relative to the said discharge aperture, a ported shield superposed above the said orifice plate, the said plate having an upturned offset portion in substantial alignment with the port of the said shield whereby the stream flow therepast is directed through the port of the said shield.

EUGENE W. MARCI-IAND. JR. 

